Canon Macro lens

[Nathaxthelarge]

Im looking at a canon EF-S f/2.8 macro USM lens. Is this any good for the money? Its about $800 AUD. Are they an alright macro lens?

 

[VujayPrabhakaran]

the price is ok

 

[pgriz]

There are several f/2.8 Canon macro lenses. Which focal length? "L" series or not?

And probably, most important, what are you planning to use it for?

 

[Nathaxthelarge]

Sorry, i thought the focal length was on there. 100mm. Ill just put up a link of it. Its not the L series one. From what i could see, the L series one is almost double the price. I want to use it for a bit of wildlife, flowers. Im not a full on macro nut, but i want to get into it.
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens Review

 

[Nathaxthelarge]

Just looking around at online australian store stuff, i can find an L series one for around $860AUD. But im not too keen on buying online.. In store they are $1400ish...

 

[pgriz]

I don't have any personal experience with the Canon 100mm macro, but one of my photographic acquaintances does and she absolutely loves the lens. I decided to pay a bit less, for a Tamron 90mm macro. Performance-wise the reviews on the Tamron lens were very good, and that's what I decided to get. My impression is that Sigma's macro lens is also very good. As for the L-series macro for $860 AUD, that seems like a very steep discount over retail. OTOH, there are on-line bargains. I don't buy on-line, so I have no perspective to share with you.

Keep in mind that the macro lens will be only the first part of the purchase. You'll also need a good tripod/head. Then, you'll find that the light needs to be better, so you'll spend money on a good flash, and as the flash "should" be off-camera, on either a synch cable, or radio triggers. Then you'll find that moving the camera is a royal pain, so you'll invest in a rail... Then you'll decide that one flash is giving too much of an unbalanced light, and you'll invest in a second flash. Then... Anyways, you get the idea.

 

[Montana]

The 100mm 2.8 macro is a fantastic lens! There are other fine macro lenses from 3rd party companies as well that perform very good too. I own the lens you are interested in and enjoy it quite regularly. Very sharp, it accepts both the ring and twin light macro flashes. I just wrapped a brand new one yesterday for my father for Christmas. Fantastic lens.

Edit~ I had to re-read your posts. Your first post says EF-S, then later you mention the 100mm non-L. Both 100mm lenses are EF, not EF-S. I think the EF-S is a 60mm macro. Which lens are you looking at?

 

[Hardrock]

The 100mm 2.8 macro is a fantastic lens! There are other fine macro lenses from 3rd party companies as well that perform very good too. I own the lens you are interested in and enjoy it quite regularly. Very sharp, it accepts both the ring and twin light macro flashes. I just wrapped a brand new one yesterday for my father for Christmas. Fantastic lens.

Edit~ I had to re-read your posts. Your first post says EF-S, then later you mention the 100mm non-L. Both 100mm lenses are EF, not EF-S. I think the EF-S is a 60mm macro. Which lens are you looking at?

I agree totally! The 100mm F2.8 usm is an outstanding lens. The only drawback for me is I wish it was in the 150 to 180mm range. For better background blur.

 

[Nathaxthelarge]

Im guessing i mean EF, not EF/S.. To be honest, i dont know the difference. All i know is there is the EF 100mm f2.8 for $900 in a local shop, or there is the f2.8L online for around $850-900 too. Is there much different between the non L and the L??

 

[icassell]

I have the 100 f/2.8 and love the lens. I have no interest in trading it in for the "L". It's built solid as a rock and is a beautiful piece of glass. It's not fast focus, even with the limiter switch, but I usually manual focus for macro work anyway.

 

[soylentgreen]

Im guessing i mean EF, not EF/S.. To be honest, i dont know the difference. All i know is there is the EF 100mm f2.8 for $900 in a local shop, or there is the f2.8L online for around $850-900 too. Is there much different between the non L and the L??

The regular EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro is around the $500 USD range, but the EF 100mm F/2.8L IS Macro runs in the neighborhood of $900 USD. Both are great lenses, but the IS on the L is superb. Hand-held macro shots at 1/25 of a second is possible. Something I could never do with my EF-S 60 f/2.8 Macro. I find that the 60mm is sharper than the regular 100mm macro, but the L trumps them all. Usually I never have my tripod handy when I need it, so the IS is a bonus. FYI, EF-S lenses will only fit on APS-C "crop" sensor cameras; i.e. EOS Rebel line, 7D thru 60D line of camera bodies.

 

[Nathaxthelarge]

Im guessing i mean EF, not EF/S.. To be honest, i dont know the difference. All i know is there is the EF 100mm f2.8 for $900 in a local shop, or there is the f2.8L online for around $850-900 too. Is there much different between the non L and the L??

The regular EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro is around the $500 USD range, but the EF 100mm F/2.8L IS Macro runs in the neighborhood of $900 USD. Both are great lenses, but the IS on the L is superb. Hand-held macro shots at 1/25 of a second is possible. Something I could never do with my EF-S 60 f/2.8 Macro. I find that the 60mm is sharper than the regular 100mm macro, but the L trumps them all. Usually I never have my tripod handy when I need it, so the IS is a bonus. FYI, EF-S lenses will only fit on APS-C "crop" sensor cameras; i.e. EOS Rebel line, 7D thru 60D line of camera bodies.

Alright, thanks heaps for that!!! I read a review in a magazine over here that said that the IS on the L version is awesome. Ive got a EOS 500D. I dont know what model it is overseas. Apparently its one of the crop sensor ones? Im really not sure to be honest. Will the 100mm f2.8/f2.8L lenses fit on it?

 

[Josh66]

Yes, it will fit - and it's also a great lens.

EF lenses will fit every EOS body. EF-S lenses only fit crop bodies. With a little modification, you can make them fit full-frame bodies - but I wouldn't recommend that unless you know what you're doing.

 

[Nathaxthelarge]

Yes, it will fit - and it's also a great lens.

EF lenses will fit every EOS body. EF-S lenses only fit crop bodies. With a little modification, you can make them fit full-frame bodies - but I wouldn't recommend that unless you know what you're doing.

Alright, thanks . Ill just wait and see how things go as to whether i get the macro lens or not.

 

[soylentgreen]

Alright, thanks heaps for that!!! I read a review in a magazine over here that said that the IS on the L version is awesome. Ive got a EOS 500D. I dont know what model it is overseas. Apparently its one of the crop sensor ones? Im really not sure to be honest. Will the 100mm f2.8/f2.8L lenses fit on it?[/QUOTE]

Depending on what your macro subject is, keep in mind the focal length. The 100mm will actually be 160mm on your crop sensor. In some cases too much zoom. I get that sometimes switching between my 5D MkII and 7D with the 100mm. The EF-S 60mm will equate to about 96mm once you factor in the crop. One reason I got it when I first started macro work.